KATHLEEN BEJBL

Kathleen "Kathy" Toohey Bejbl passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023, in DeKalb, Illinois. While her passing was unexpected, and we miss our Maw and Gramma dearly, we know she and her husband, Jerry, are happily reunited.

Kathy was born on June 30, 1940, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Clarence Park Toohey and Catherine Lucille Corliss, and doted on by many aunts and uncles. Growing up in rural Townville, young Kathleen played with the black snakes in the family barn, swam in the “crick”, annoyed the pigs, raced angry bulls to the fence, and learned to hunt with her father. She was a crack shot. 

The top of her class through high school, Kathy eventually attended Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania where she met her future husband, Jerome “Jerry” Bejbl. It took some time, but he won her over. One of Jerry’s favorite memories was seeing Kathy for the first time: “I saw a beautiful young woman in a red sweater in the lunch line, and without even knowing who she was, I fell in love. The red sweater is gone, but the love I felt is just the same.”

Jerry and Kathy were married on July 22, 1961, in Slippery Rock, and had three children, Michelle, Michael, and Christopher. The family moved to DeKalb, Illinois, in 1969, where Kathy’s father helped Jerry and his brother-in-law, Larry Jarres, establish Armoloy of Illinois, a metal coating company. Kathy taught Physical Education and Health for the Genoa-Kingston School District from 1970-1979, as well as coached the girls’ sports teams to great success. When her children began competing in high school sports, Kathy stopped teaching so she could cheer them on at their games. 

An adored mother and grandmother, Kathy loved spending time with her family. She took pride in watching her children grow and find success. She enjoyed time with her friends - golfing, shopping, and countless lunches - both in Illinois and Florida. Weather permitting, Kathy could be seen regularly walking the DeKalb Nature Trail. Ever the party planner, Kathy threw an annual holiday party for several years, joining family and friends together to celebrate. Kathy was an avid crossword puzzle doer, Sudoku solver, and Solitaire player. She also enjoyed watching (and feeding - despite her family’s objections) the deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and birds that regularly visited her backyard. 

Kathy is sorely missed by her family and friends, including daughter Michelle and her husband Don Thomas; son Mike Bejbl; son Chris Bejbl and his wife Renee; her namesake and matching brown-eyed granddaughter Kathleen and her husband Jonathan Meyer; her beloved sister Sheila and her husband Larry Jarres, her nephews and niece, Damian Jarres, Trevor Jarres, and Courtney Zemsky; as well as several cousins. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her mother, father, and her husband, Jerry. 

A visitation will be held at Anderson Funeral Home on Monday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m., with a service commencing at 3:00 p.m. Burial at Fairview Park Cemetery will follow. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hope Haven in memory of Kathy Bejbl, care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

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